Boston Flora

Tag: Jen Kettell

  • Wednesday, April 22, 6:45 pm – The Camel’s Garden: Drought Tolerant Plants for a Changing Climate

    The Burlington Garden Club will host Jen Kettell, Radiant Leaf Consulting, on Wednesday, April 22 at 6:45 pm in the Murray Kelly Room in the Burlington Council on Aging Building, 61 Center Street in Burlington. Jen will speak on The Camel’s Garden: Drought Tolerant Plants for a Changing Climate. The program is funded in part by a grant from the Burlington Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a State agency.

    Jen Kettell, BCMA is a consulting arborist serving the New England area (and occasionally beyond). As the owner of Radiant Leaf Consulting, she shares her passion for horticulture through the training she provides to both homeowners and green industry professionals. She started landscaping as a teen, continuing to farming, greenhouse production, and finally the Arnold Arboretum before she began building Radiant Leaf Consulting. Today, Radiant Leaf is celebrating just over ten years as a small local business.

    She has consulted for Safdie Architects and The Trustees’ public gardens, and has served as a guest lecturer for the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the Arnold Arboretum, and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

  • Thursday, April 15, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Drought Tolerant Plants for Climate Change, Online

    When the dog days of summer hit, many of us are faced with water bans that limit our ability to water our lush gardens. We find ourselves carefully monitoring the water level in rain barrels and hoping for the next rainfall. What if we started to incorporate plants that simply need less water? In this online Massachusetts Horticultural Society lecture on April 15 at 7 pm, Jen Kettell will share the effects of drought on woody plants and describe plant adaptations for dealing with drought. Most importantly, she will introduce you to a new palette of plant material that will decrease your water use while increasing species diversity and beauty in your home landscape. 

    Jen Kettell is an arborist and horticulturist serving the New England area. She is a recent graduate of the American Society for Consulting Arborists (ASCA) Academy, an advanced professional training for experienced arborists. As the owner of Radiant Leaf Consulting, she shares her passion for horticulture through the training she provides to both homeowners and green industry professionals.

    Currently, she is a consultant for The Trustees’ public gardens, and a guest lecturer and trainer at the University of Massachusetts, the Arnold Arboretum, and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). In addition, she collaborates with other professionals through volunteer appointments on the Landscape Advisory Committee for the Wakefield Estate and Arboretum and the Board of Directors at Stearns Organic Farm.

    Prior to starting Radiant Leaf Consulting in 2013, she worked as a staff horticulturist at Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum for more than ten years, and served on the board of directors for the International Society of Arboriculture’s local chapter for five years.

  • Saturday, March 23, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Pruning Project: Hydrangeas

    Saturday, March 23, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Pruning Project: Hydrangeas

    Confused about how to prune your hydrangeas to maximize flowering and increase health? You are not alone! Join Jen Kettell on March 23 at 10 am at the Arnold Arboretum for a lively discussion on the species behind the hot trade names (Hydrangea ‘Pistachio’ reblooming shown below) and how to prune them. In addition, Jen will focus on how to match appropriate plants to your site conditions. She’ll suggest which species are drought-tolerant or benefit pollinators and other essential growing tips. Jen will focus on hydrangeas that are hardy in Zones 5-7. Class includes an indoor lecture and walk to a demonstration in the Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden. Fee $25 Arboretum member, $35 nonmember. Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.

    Image result for hydrangea

  • Saturday, February 9, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Small Plants, Big Bang

    The North Andover Garden Club presents Small Plants, Big Bang with Jen Kettell on Saturday, February 8 from 10:30 – 12:30 at the Stevens Memorial Library, 345 Main Street in North Andover.

    Spring is the ideal time to be transplanting woody plants. Jen will introduce you to new and old favorites for small spaces. In the excitement to create a beautiful outdoor living space, many gardeners overplant (in number or size.) Learn how to avoid this by introducing the smaller gems of the plant world into your garden, such as native groundcovers, dwarf conifers, and more.

    $5 suggested donation for the public.  Jen Kettell is a certified arborist, horticulturist, and lecturer and trainer at the University of Massachusetts and at the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University. She also consults with the International Society of Arboriculture, as well as The Trustees of Reservations. This program is co-hosted with the Library. For more information visit http://www.northandovergardenclub.com/

    Image result for dwarf conifers

  • Thursday, April 19, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – The Straight Talk on Hydrangeas

    With gorgeous hydrangea cultivars flooding nurseries and garden centers, it can be challenging to choose just one (or a few!). Magnificent blooms in rich colors entice, yet their allure can lead you to purchase hydrangeas that will not thrive in your garden. Don’t let this happen. Instead, join Jen Kettell at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University on April 19 at 6 pm for a lively discussion on the species behind the hot trade names—especially their inherent growth characteristics—and learn how to match appropriate plants to your site conditions. She’ll suggest which species are drought-tolerant or benefit pollinators and demonstrate pruning to maximize flowering and other essential growing tips. Jen will focus on hydrangeas that are hardy in Zones 5-7. Class includes an indoor lecture and walk to a demonstration in the Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden. Fee $25 Arboretum member, $35 nonmember. Register at http://my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5209.  Image from http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com.

    Image result for zone 6 hydrangeas

  • Wednesday, September 27, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Plant Combinations for Beneficial Home Landscapes

    Is your garden and yard as beautiful and beneficial as possible? Are you interested in adding some pizazz for pollinators as well as for yourself? If so, then join this creative walk through the Leventritt Shrub and Vine garden at the Arnold Arboretum with horticulturist Jen Kettell on Wednesday, September 27 from 4 – 6 to consider different combinations of plants that will provide forage for bees, snacks for wildlife and humans, nesting habitat, and seasonal allure. Jen will show how to extend the appeal and bounty of your garden across the seasons by carefully selecting and combining trees, shrubs, and vines. Fee $25 Arboretum member; $30 nonmember. Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.

  • Thursday, June 29, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Pruning the Early Bloomers

    On Thursday, June 29 beginning at 7 pm at The Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley, join Jen Kettell for an introduction to pruning early-blooming shrubs. During the summer excitement, it can be challenging to remember to return to these early-season lovelies! However, we want to complete any major renovation and structural pruning as soon after blooming as possible. This training will serve both as a reminder to get to it! and an exploration of now, which plants are we talking about? Sign up now for a fun and productive lesson. Mass Hort members $12, nonmembers $20.  Register online at www.masshort.org or call 617933-4973.

    Jen Kettell is a certified arborist and horticulturist serving the New England area. For more than a decade, she worked as a staff horticulturist at Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum. Now she shares her passion for teaching horticulture through the training she provides to both homeowners and green industry professionals. She is a guest lecturer and trainer at the University of Massachusetts, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, New England Wildflower Society, and the Arnold Arboretum. Learn more about Jen at www.JenKettell.com.  Image from www.provenwinners.com.

  • Saturday, February 25, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Pruning Shrubs

    Knowing what and when to prune, and how to do so, are important as you manage your home landscape. Learn the basic techniques for pruning ornamental shrubs for optimum health and beauty. On Saturday, February 25 from 10 – noon at the Arnold Arboretum’s Hunnewell Building, Jen Kettell, an ISA-certified arborist will address topics including pruning cuts and tools; thinning and reducing overgrown plants; shaping and encouraging new growth. Fee $20 Arboretum member, $30 nonmember. Register online at www.my.arboretum.harvard.edu.

  • Saturday, January 28, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – Pruning in Winter

    On Saturday, January 28 from 9 – 12, Jen Kettell, an ISA-certified arborist, will explain the reasons for pruning and what to consider when pruning dormant trees, shrubs, and vines. She will demonstrate techniques, give guidelines for determining which plants benefit from winter pruning, and explain how plants heal from pruning wounds. Note: this Arnold Arboretum workshop, to be held in the Hunnewell Building, teaches ornamental pruning techniques; it does not provide information on pruning for fruit production. Fee $35 Arboretum member, $48 nonmember. Register online at www.arboretum.harvard.edu. Image from www.welldonelandscaping.com.

  • Monday, June 15, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Pruning Project: Taming the Early Season Bloomers

    Now is the time to prune those early-blooming shrubs–once they’ve flowered–so their growth through the summer can fuel the development of next year’s buds. ISA-certified arborist Jen Kettell will focus your attention on the kinds of shrubs that should be pruned now, various pruning cuts, and the type of thinning that will encourage health and vibrant blooms for years to come. This Arnold Arboretum class will be held Monday, June 15, from 6:30 – 8:30 in the Hunnewell Building, 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain. To register, visit https://my.arboretum.harvard.edu/Info.aspx?DayPlanner=1427&DayPlannerDate=6/15/2015.  Fee $25 member, $35 nonmember.  Picture from www.davesgarden.com.